The Values of Crying for Imam Hussein and its Effect on Cognition-Emotion Interaction, the Neurobiological Perspective
Journal of Pizhūhish dar dīn va Salāmat (i.e., Research on Religion & Health),
Vol. 9 No. 4 (2023),
18 April 2025
,
Page 134-147
https://doi.org/10.22037/jrrh.v9i4.37365
Abstract
Background and Objective: Neurobiologically, crying is a means of expressing sadness, which indicates the height of arousal and changes the autonomic system. In this study, with an inferential review of the concepts of crying in neuroscience, psychology and the Quran and hadith, the relationship between crying for Imam Hussein (pbuh) and its healing effect on the cognitive and emotional network of the brain was investigated.
Methods: The current research is a library-based descriptive study and for data collection, the keywords crying, physiological effects of crying, neurobiological effects of crying and psychological effects of crying were used without limiting the year of publication on Google Scholar, PubMed and Scopus databases. Also, Islamic texts relied on data collected from Hadith collections and the Quran, as well as Quranic and Hadith software and commentaries, which were analyzed through content analysis. The authors of the article reported no conflict of interest.
Results: Following crying, the emotional and psychological system returns to balance and normality. Mental state shifts to negative value when humans are close to punishments or away from rewards. The emotional system will be disturbed if the negative mood or stress becomes chronic. Crying can be a way to discharge negative emotions and distress. It stimulates the activity of mirror neurons and enhances the interpersonal relationships and acts as a mechanism based on evolutionary principles to bring people closer to each other. Crying provides us with important information about the needs, social affiliations, and commitments of individuals. Victimized and bitter martyrdom of Imam Hussain (pbuh), his children and companions, and his family's captivity can make everybody weep.
Conclusion: Mourning and crying for Imam Hossein (pbuh) because of the beautiful rewards that God has promised, not only releases the negative emotions, but also induces positive feelings due to stimulation of the reward system. Thus a person that is crying for Imam Hossein (pbuh) will have healthier mind.
- 2023-12-19 (2)
- 2023-12-19 (1)
How to Cite
References
Loghmani A. Falsafey-e Ashk. Farhange Kousar. 1996;14:32-7. (Full Text in Persian)
Bylsma LM, Gračanin A, Vingerhoets AJJM. The
neurobiology of human crying. Clin Auton Res. 2019;29(1):63-73.
Banks SJ, Eddy KT, Angstadt M, Nathan PJ, Phan KL. Amygdala–frontal connectivity during emotion regulation. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. 2007;2(4):303-12.
Rottenberg J, Wilhelm FH, Gross JJ, Gotlib IH. Vagal rebound during resolution of tearful crying among depressed and nondepressed individuals. Psychophysiology. 2003;40(1):1-6.
Barr RG. Crying as a sign, a symptom, and a signal: Clinical, emotional and developmental aspects of infant and toddler crying: Cambridge University Press; 2000.
Lester BM. There's more to crying than meets the ear. Infant Crying: Theoretical and Research Perspectives New York: Plenum Publishing Corp. 1985:1-2.
Rizzolatti G, Sinigaglia C, Anderson FT. Mirrors in the brain: How our minds share actions and emotions: Oxford University Press; 2008.
Vingerhoets A, Boelhouwer AJW, Van Tilburg MA, Van Heck GL. The situational and emotional context of adult crying. Adult crying: A biopsychosocial approach. 2001:71-89.
Vingerhoets AJ, Rottenberg J, Cevaal A, Nelson JK. Is there a relationship between depression and crying? A review. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 2007; 115(5): 340-51.
Hendriks MC, Rottenberg J, Vingerhoets AJ. Can the distress-signal and arousal-reduction views of crying be reconciled? Evidence from the cardiovascular system. Emotion. 2007;7(2):458-63.
Rottenberg J, Bylsma LM, Vingerhoets AJ. Is crying beneficial? Current Directions in Psychological Science. 2008;17(6):400-4.
Silva André, Ferreira-Alves José , Arantes Joana We are unique when we cry: A review of Michael Trimble, Why Humans Like to Cry: Tragedy, Evolution, and the Brain. Evolutionary Psychology 2013;11(1):85-8.
Ishii Y, Shinya Y. Positive emotions have different impacts on mood and sympathetic changes in crying from negative emotions. Motivation and Emotion. 2021;45(4):530-42.
Tarkhan Qh. Mystical, philosophical and theological attitude to the character and uprising of Imam Hussein (AS). 1 ed. Tehran: chelcheraq; 2009. (Full Text in Persian)
Gilbard JP. Crying: The Mystery of Tears. Archives of Ophthalmology. 1986;104(3):343-4.
Hendriks MCP, Rottenberg J, Vingerhoets AJJM. Can the distress-signal and arousal-reduction views of cardiovascular system. Emotion. 2007;7(2):458.
Lane CJ. Evolution of gender differences in adult crying: The University of Texas at Arlington; 2006.
Motahari M. Husaynian Epic. Tehran: Sadra; 2000. (Full Text in Persian)
Kaviyani M. Farhangh-e Ashoraee, chisti va Cherayee. Qom: Majma Jahani ahlebeyt; 2001. (Full Text in Persian)
Tabarsi F. Majma‘ al-Bayan fi-Tafsir al-Qur'an. Tehran: Fatahani; 1971. (Full Text in Persian)
Ibn-e Fares A. Mo'jam Maqais al-Loghat. Qom: Islamic Publications Office; 1987. (Full Text in Arabic)
al-Mas'udi A. Murūj al-dhahab va maʿādin al-jawāhir. Beirut: Da'r al-Hijra; 2005. (Full Text in Arabic)
al-Saduq AS. Uyoun Akhbar Al-Ridha: Darolketab Eslamiye; 2005. (Full Text in Arabic)
Koleini MY. Osool-e Kafi, Translated by Ansarian H. Tehran: Darolfonoon; 1894. (Full Text in Persian)
al-Saduq AS. Amali.Translated by Kamali MB Tehran: Ketabchi; 1997. (Full Text in Persian)
Ibn-e Qulawayh J. Kamel al-Ziyarat. Translated by Tehrani Z. Qom: Majhool; 1998. (Full Text in Persian)
Afraimovich V, Young T, Muezzinoglu MK, Rabinovich MI. Nonlinear dynamics of emotion-cognition interaction: when emotion does not destroy cognition? Bulletin of Mathematical Biology. 2011; 73(2):266-84.
Salzman CD, Fusi S. Emotion, cognition, and mental state representation in amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Annual Review of Neuroscience. 2010;33:173-202.
Crocker LD, Heller W, Warren SL, O'Hare AJ, Infantolino ZP, Miller GA. Relationships among cognition, emotion, and motivation: implications for intervention and neuroplasticity in psychopathology. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2013;7:261.
Rolls ET. A biased activation theory of the cognitive and attentional modulation of emotion. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2013;7:74.
Gozzi A, Jain A, Giovannelli A, Bertollini C, Crestan V, Schwarz AJ, et al. A neural switch for active and passive fear. Neuron. 2010;67(4):656-66.
Figueiredo HF, Bruestle A, Bodie B, Dolgas CM, Herman JP. The medial prefrontal cortex differentially regulates stress-induced c-fos expression in the forebrain depending on type of stressor. European Journal of Neuroscience. 2003;18(8):2357-64.
Hatef B, Shiri S, Sahraei H. Why Human React Differently to the Same Sensory Experiences: an Emotion-Cognition Interaction. The Neuroscience Journal of Shefaye Khatam. 2016;(4)1:67-76.
Marin MF, Lord C, Andrews J, Juster RP, Sindi S, Arsenault-Lapierre G, et al. Chronic stress, cognitive functioning and mental health. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 2011;96(4):583-95.
Richard Contrada R, Baum A. The Handbook of Stress Science: Biology, Psychology, and Health. 1 ed: Springer Publishing Company; 2011.
Yaribeygi H, Panahi Y, Sahraei H, Johnston TP, Sahebkar A. The impact of stress on body function: A review. EXCLI JOURNAL. 2017;16:1057-72.
Salehi M, Eimani H, Sahraei H, Meftahi GH. Stress Can Changes Reward System Function in Second-Generation (F2): A Review. Advances in Bioresearch. 2015;6(5).
Xie YF, Huo FQ, Tang JS. Cerebral cortex modulation of pain. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. 2009;30(1):31-41.
Duquette M, Roy M, Lepore F, Peretz I, Rainville P. [Cerebral mechanisms involved in the interaction between pain and emotion]. Revue Neurologique. 2007;163(2):169-79.
Palazidou E. The neurobiology of depression. British Medical Bulletin. 2012;101:127-45.
Shin LM, Liberzon I. The neurocircuitry of fear, stress, and anxiety disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2010;35(1):169-91.
Price JL, Drevets WC. Neurocircuitry of mood disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2010;35(1):192-216.
Seyed Razi. Nahjolbalagheh. Translated By Dashti M. Tehran: Amiralmomenin; 2012. (Full text in Persain)
Mohadethi MJ. Farhange Ashoora. Qom: Maroof; 1997. (Full Text in Persian)
Porcelli S, Van Der Wee N, Van der Werff S, Aghajani M, Glennon JC, Van Heukelum S, et al. Social brain, social dysfunction and social withdrawal. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2019;97:10-33.
Motahari M. Mahdi uprising and revolution. Tehran: Sadra; 1979. (Full Text in Persian)
- Abstract Viewed: 397 times
- PDF (فارسی) Downloaded: 126 times